ORDER :

1. All these writ petitions raise common questions and they can therefore be disposed of by one common judgment. The necessary facts in order to appreciate the contentions raised before me are that the Presidents of various village panchayats were removed from their offices of Presidentships on various charges. They were removed by the Revenue Divisional Officer which was finally confirmed by the Government by necessary issue of notifications. These orders of removal are challenged mainly on two grounds. It is firstly contended that the Inspector could not have delegated the power to remove the President to the Revenue Divisional Officer, that the delegation is of the exercise of the power of a quasi-judicial character and that such a delegation is therefore bad in law. It was secondly contended that rules of natural justice in regard to fair heating were not followed inasmuch as the report submitted to the Government by the Local Government authorities was not disclosed to the petitioners.

2. In order to appreciate these contentions in their correct perspective, it if necessary to mention few more facts. Section 47 of the Madras Village Panchayats Act, 1950 (hereinafter ca